Key Findings

In Minnesota, people of Color (those who identify as a race other than White alone, and/or those who are Hispanic) make up 19% of the total population. Non-Hispanic White Minnesotans represent the remaining 81% of the statewide population.

All race groups have grown recently in MN, but between 2010 and 2015, the state has added four times as many people of Color as non-Hispanic White residents. Populations of Color are distributed unevenly across the state, and are more likely to live in metro areas than rural areas.

Between 2010 and 2015, the fastest growing racial group in Minnesota was the Asian population, which grew by 22%, adding nearly 48,000 people. Second fastest was the Black population, which grew by 16%, adding 45,000 people, followed by the Hispanic population, which grew by 13%, adding 32,000 people. (Asian and Black race groups are that race "alone" and non-Hispanic).

Note: Users needing race/ethnicity data are cautioned that the file below contains estimates for each race group that include individuals who are that race alone plus that race in combination with one or more other race(s). Therefore, adding the five race groups will result in a sum of more than the total population for any county or the state because multiracial individuals appear in more than one column (unlike the file immediately above). However, for any one race group, this file will give the most inclusive estimate by race. This is particularly helpful for the American Indian population, which contains many multiracial persons.

Notes: Users are encouraged to use the Download to CSV option to more readily view all the data in these large tables. Although American Community Survey data about age, race and ethnicity are also available for counties, the Census Bureau Population Estimates above are preferred for county-level estimates. City-level estimates by age, race and ethnicity are not available from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program, which is why American Community Survey data are provided here. However, users wishing to directly compare cities to counties should use the American Community Survey data for both estimates.

Educational inequities data from Generation Next, a partnership dedicated to closing the achievement and opportunity gap in the Twin Cities area.

Featured Map: Predominant racial or ethnic group

Use the map below to explore which locations (down to census tracts, areas of about 4,000 people) have a higher percentage of residents by various racial or ethnic backgrounds. You can zoom in and out (using the zoom tool at the upper right) as well as pan from side to side with this map to see all areas of Minnesota and the nation. See all of our maps and interactive data displays in our Map & Viz Gallery.